It may sound odd, but when it comes to oral hygiene, flossing may be even more important than brushing. Flossing allows us the chance to remove plaque from the nooks and crannies between our teeth that brushing just can’t. Let’s take a look at some reasons why flossing is so important.
First, there are some pretty nasty consequences that can result from failing to floss. One of the first, most noticeable things that results from avoiding flossing is bad breath. It’s pretty simple when you think about it, really. If we don’t floss regularly, the bits and pieces of that ham sandwich we ate days earlier are going to just sit between our teeth and begin to deteriorate. That eventually leads to some pretty smelly breath, as you might imagine. Neglecting to floss can also lead to cavities forming. Cavities require fillings, and fillings result in the ear-piercing drill sound that none of us like. Perhaps the worst consequence we may face is losing teeth. Plaque left on teeth can result in gum disease in which our gums recede from our teeth and leave pockets in which bacteria can dwell and wreak havoc. Left there long enough, teeth weaken and must be removed.
Next, some benefits of flossing. When we floss regularly, we stave off gum disease, which makes our gums bleed. It’s much less concerning to us when our gums don’t bleed when we brush and floss. Another big benefit is whiter teeth. If we floss regularly, we remove the gunk between our teeth and our whole smile looks brighter and whiter. A whiter smile makes us all happy, right?
How often should we floss? Ideally, floss each time you brush (2 times per day) so we can stay on top of keeping food bits from accumulating in spots our brush can’t reach. If that can’t happen for some reason, then floss at least once each day. If we floss regularly, our teeth will look better and feel better, and our overall oral health will be in better condition. Visit Your Dental Office to get a better understanding of your oral health. Contact us today to book an appointment.